The Donald plays on "the same kinds of prejudices that fueled the persecution of Mormons that deprived them, direct forbears to many modern Mormons, of their land, homes and, in many instances, lives," the statement continues. "[We], of all people, should know the scent of persecution when we smell it."

It ends with a plea to fellow Latter-day Saints of whatever political persuasion "to protect our constitutional order from the disaster of a Trump presidency ... to make a choice for liberty, for peace, for responsible government, [and] to vote against Donald Trump this November."

This Mormon movement was the brainchild of Utah author Russell Stevenson, a longtime Republican  turned independent  who became appalled as he watched Trump's poll numbers rise.

"Whatever Mormon problems he has, they're not big enough" to stop the GOP nominee, Stevenson says in an interview. That fear prompted him to launch the social media campaign a month ago. "We need bipartisan, multipartisan opposition."